Monday, July 09, 2007

CRAGS ROAD CLOSED

If you didn't see this in Saturday's Gazette, take note. Forest Development Road No. 383 in Teller County - better known as The Crags Road - will be closed, mostly, for 10 days this month as workers make it passable for all types of vehicles.

Work will close the road July 16-20 and July 23-27 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. But traffic will be allowed through on those days at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

It's not terrbile, but the Crags Road has always had a few questionable high spots - mostly embedded rocks down the middle that developed ruts on both sides and could easily take out a Civic on the way to the Mennonite Camp.

There also is a wicked lurch that tipped the road suddenly to one side that developed as a result of a large boulder under one side of the road.

In winter when the road was icy, this lurch could put your vehicle in the ditch as a result of a sudden slide. I will be really happy to see this part fixed.

Anyone want to join me in speculating that this may be related to the "for sale" status of the 320 acre property at the upper end of this road? Improved access would certainly up the value of the real estate, whether it's to be developed for residential, recreational, or other purposes.

Just to add speculation to bill's fire, after I wrote a story this winter saying that Harvey Carter was going to sell the land in question, and that it was the snowiest, best skiing on the mountain, I got a call from a guy who wanted to see if he could make it happen. Never heard from him again.

Dropping houses up there - even if limited to 35 acre tracts - would be a terrible thing. That is the one thing I hope doesn't happen.

While a small ski area would also be disruptive, I would take it over residential development any day.

That being said, when I first learned of the availability of the Carter property some 2 years ago, I alerted the Central CO Wilderness Coalition as well as Kevin Tanski (the former Teller County Parks & Rec Coordinator) and my contacts at the Trust for Public Lands to the sale.

Carter's proterty is the ONLY significant inholding in the proposed Pikes Peak West wilderness area. I would think it would be on a short-list of properties we would at least want to pursue a conservation easement on.

But to my knowledge none of the people I contacted - though they all responded to my initial email - ever followed up beyond that. Too bad. It is land worth preserving.

I remember when I first moved to the area trying to find the 'crags'(not realizing the TH is in the campground). Ended up driving to the end of the road and wondering around in the hills... Found these really cool rock 'bluffs' that sat above the trees....amazing views....funny thing is I have never been able find these rock formations since.

Don't you think the Mennonite camp/campground would be a natural deterrent to development in that area?

Interesting. If it does get developed for housing and the owners live there year round Teller County will be forced to plow the road during Winter.I hope the cost of developing it keeps it from selling to anyone but an open space group.